that's higher than I wanted to see them get... it's going to be a tight year with cap space I think... don't see too many changes to what we have.

A year later we lose Demitra's salary while some young players (Hodgson, Grabner, Schroeder) can step in, while the cap will likely go down... we should be okay the season after - getting more cap space with some flexibility with young players.

But for the next couple years, these contracts are going to take more cap space than I'd like to see them get.

Personally, I would have preferred the 12 yr deals at $5.25mill cap his (although no NMC past year 6).

Doubt it. Hossa will not take a 1 year deal. He has made that very clear. Neither will Cammalari. That leaves Gaborik(who probably wants guaranteed money). Or are you talking about the other 1 year deals like Salo and Demitra that we could let walk next year?

I don't think Gillis will just look to UFA's to fill out the roster. With Luongo's re-singing being imminent he can package Schneider with players/picks and land someone to fill one or more of our holes.

Well I am glad that they are back and that Gillis hasn't committed to a hugely long contract. The $6.1m seems a little high but when we consider what some team would likely given them on the open market this is not such a bad deal.

Demitra goes...Grabner replaces. Save cap space and can spread that 4 million to other contract extensions.

At least Gillis seems to have a plan going forward, you can't keep players in the minors for ever and eventually you'll have to give your youth a chance. Hodgson, Grabner, Schroeder could fill Demitra's role after his contract.

This contract makes me sick, honestly. This is by far the worst mistake since the Naslund contract. $6.1M is way too much for these guys who have PROVEN they aren't good enough to lead this team anywhere. They are now paid like our franchise players, and that they are not!

This team is screwed in the short-term. At least it's only 5 years but we are now, as an organization, set back for 5 years.

It's a great plan, except the odds of it happening are very remote. If Grabner doesn't stick this season, put him in the bust column, because guys who take that long in the minors almost never develop into real NHL players.